How often should I wash my dog?

Question

I have a yorkshire terrier/ toy poodle mix. I've heard so many different suggestions. One vet seriously said 3 times a year, but that is just gross. My dog tends to smell bad often, and I have already asked the vet why. He just has grows his fur really quickly and plays outside a lot. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

How often you wash a dog depends a lot on the dog. By trial and error, I know my dog's skin can withstand a wash at least once a week, but I try to keep it around once a month because I've been putting Frontline on her and I don't want that expensive flea repellant to get washed off.

If you don't want to wash your dog that often, they sell little doggie perfume sprays at dog stores now, and those work pretty well. I feel bad admitting I bought one, but...uh...it was on sale. Really.

Answer 2

My experience -- after years-and-years of owning various dogs -- is that it varies from dog-to-dog. I currently have a short-haired dog (a labrador retriever), and I don't ever give her a bath. She always smells just fine. Lives basically in the house but goes outside whenever she wants to. But ... on the other hand ... I have had other labrador retrievers that I did have to bathe because they tended to get fleas in the summer months. For some reason, this dog that I have now never gets fleas (and didn't get fleas even when I still had the other dogs).

So I think that you need to give your dog a bath whenever you feel that he needs it ... regardless of what the vet says. Some dogs roll in other animals' poop ... some dogs don't ... some dogs get fleas ... some dogs don't. I personally think that a long-haired dog like a Yorkie needs to be bathed every couple of weeks ... otherwise it's hard to keep their hair clean and tangle-free. I've never owned a Yorkie -- but I did have a poodle, and I found that I had to bathe her every couple of weeks in order to keep her coat clean and tangle-free.

Answer 3

about once a month. as far as why that is undesirable to bathe the canines too commonly, you'll dry the floor out fairly badly. The oil glands interior the floor isn't allowed to do their job. once per week is way too commonly, or perhaps coach canines do not get bathed that commonly. the reason canines that are bathed once per week commence stinking after per week is because the oil glands are forced to flow previous usual time, attempting to grant oil for the floor that is been washed away by technique of consistent bathing. those who bathe about once a month will comprehend their canines truly do not stink. also, if the canines does stink a lot, there is probable something else incorrect, like a foodstuff allergy, or something medically incorrect. In such situations the canines's foodstuff plan and such needs to be said with a vet.

Answer 4

I have read many things about this. My dog also gets quite smelly and I probably am a bit lazy but I only wash her every 3 - 4 weeks unless she is scratching alot around her tail area. Like humans, the more you wash your hair, the more you strip out the natural oils from their coats. If you can cope with washing every second week, this should be ok. I also use a dog cologne in between washes (available from good pet shops) it smells great. Hope this helps

Answer 5

It really depends on the breed.Brushing everyday, removes dirt.
For a siberian a bath three times a year is perfect, however with a golden , with daily brushing a bath every three months is neccessary, because the fur gets too oily.and smelly.If the dog is too hard to handle for a bath , bring to a groomer.
Also, you can get doggie perfume at Petsmart for $7.95 between baths, or buy dry shampoo, with a vigerous brushing, they look and smell they just had a bath.

Answer 6

During the hot summer months my dogs get baths every weekend. That's only because we go boating and they swim all weekend. The river water here really stinks. In the winter usually every month or two in the bath tub.

If you want to bathe more often try a sensitive skin formula like oatmeal dog shampoo.

Answer 7

Dogs can get real dry skin easy which causes alot of itching for them, There should be something on the internet about your breed of dog and how you should care for his coat, Keep your dog in a puppy cut and you shouldn't have a problem letting him go for a few weeks, There is a spray at pet stores that you rub in them and it cleans their coat without getting them wet.....Good Luck

Answer 8

i have a shushitzu x maltese pup and at the moment he has been getting weekly baths as he likes to play in the sprinkler and dig holes and he isnt sleeping on my bed all dirty. i have not noticed any problems with his skin yet so until i do, a bath a week for him, much to his disgust.

Answer 9

Once a week at least. I mean I have a poodle and belive me it SMELLS!!!!!!!!
even when he gets a bath he still smells belive me if you don't he will start getting flees more often

Answer 10

NO MORE THAN EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEY HAVE ESSENTIAL OILS IN THERE COAT W/OUT THESE OILS THERE SKIN BECOMES DRY, FLAKY, ITCHY, AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS SKIN PROBLEMS. LEAVING AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN BETWEEN BATHS GIVES THEM AMPLE TIME TO BUILD THE OILS BACK UP AND SHOULD BE SYMPTOMATIC FREE.